History of Europe

How did the Soviet plans for Eastern Europe differ from Western Allies?

Soviet plans for Eastern Europe:

* Creation of Soviet client states: The Soviets sought to establish communist governments in Eastern Europe that would be aligned with the Soviet Union and would serve as a buffer zone against Western Europe.

* Economic dominance: The Soviets wanted to control the economic resources of Eastern Europe and use them to rebuild the Soviet economy, which had been devastated by World War II.

* Political control: The Soviets wanted to maintain political control over Eastern Europe and prevent any Western influence in the region.

Western Allies' plans for Eastern Europe:

* Free and democratic elections: The Western Allies wanted to ensure that the countries of Eastern Europe were able to hold free and democratic elections to determine their own governments.

* Economic recovery: The Western Allies wanted to help the countries of Eastern Europe rebuild their economies and recover from the war.

* Protection from Soviet influence: The Western Allies wanted to prevent the Soviet Union from gaining control over Eastern Europe and becoming a threat to Western security.

The differences between the Soviet and Western Allies' plans for Eastern Europe led to the Cold War, a period of tension and rivalry between the two superpowers that lasted for over four decades.